For instance on the CD's opening track, "Cocek Shutka" by Sudahan from Macedonia it was hard not to miss the the Middle Eastern influences that gave it a very distinct Arabic sound. It was followed on the disc by the almost Mexican sounding trumpet that marked the song "Molitva" by Serbia's Ekrem. That this plaintive trumpet was driven along by something that sounded slightly akin to a polka beat made the tune all the more distinct.
Bulgaria's Joey Illiev, on the other hand, combines some elements from the other traditions and adds some distinct flavours of his own. The clarinet that accompanies him matches his Arabic sounding vocals, yet there are Flamenco undertones to his music that can't be ignored.
It's quite amazing when you think about how close the four countries are geographically, and yet how they each seemed to have developed different flavours to what some people might consider one type of music. If there's one lesson to be learned from the CD Princes Amongst Men - Journeys With Gypsy Musicians it's that there is no such thing as one type of Gypsy music. It is as distinct as the individuals who play it and the countries where it is played.
For those who've not had the joy and the privilege of hearing the diversity of sound that is Gypsy music, and specifically Gypsy music from the Balkans, they won't find a better introduction to this exciting world than this CD.
Article comments
1 - Sam Connick
Excellent review of Princes Among Men Richard -- our ancestors didn't come into Europe via Egypt, though. Also, "Gypsy" is increasingly being treated as non-PC and replaced by the preferred lable Roma(nies).
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